Halloween can provide a variety of treats

Sunday

Oct 30, 2011 at 12:01 AM

Halloween is the day for ghosts, ghouls and — this year, particularly — guests.Even though their faces may be hidden behind a mask or disguised by make-up, most of the children who show up on the doorstep on Halloween are at least vaguely familiar. That may be a little less so this year, but it’s no reason to turn off the porch light.At least a couple tornado-racked neighborhoods in Tuscaloosa have called off Halloween. Elsewhere along the path of the storm, even where homes are still habitable, streets and sidewalks are not yet safe enough for youngsters to walk around after dark.Some parents will likely drive their children to neighborhoods that were spared, where life has largely been untouched by the storm. We hope they find a welcome reception.Of course, it’s nothing new for families to visit the neighborhoods of friends, or go in search of parts of town where treats are more generous and the tricks are fewer.Halloween is a time for superstition and a willing suspension of disbelief in the supernatural, and the only holiday where people go knocking on the doors of strangers. It’s an odd custom, but for families whose lives have been turned upside down for the past six months, its a chance for some fun.Halloween has gradually been taken over by grown ups. But it is still largely the province of kids. Roaming groups of princesses, ninjas, witches, superheroes and pint-size Lady Gagas will trudge from yard to yard.Parents shouldn’t be blamed for seeking out neighborhoods where traffic and crime is lighter, sidewalks can keep their tykes off the road, and they can fill bags, pillow cases and plastic pumpkins in a little less time.Nationally, there seems to be an uptick this year in the seasonal excess. The U.S. Department of Commerce reported second quarter economic growth figures of 2.5 percent. That may not sound like much — and it’s not really — but it’s better economic news than we’ve seen in a while.The National Retail Federation, which keeps a close eye on consumer spending, says the average American will shell out $72.31 for the Halloween weekend. That’s up more than $6 since last year.About 70 percent of people in the United States join in the frivolity, fantasy and fun of Halloween. We expect it is somewhat fewer in Tuscaloosa. But for those families who will light the path to their door Monday evening, it might be a good idea to stock up a few extra treats.It could be a chance to show a child that while the world can be a scary place, there are welcoming neighbors, even some across town.